Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This photo is of a factory prefabricated wood burning fireplace. The clearances of the hearth tile edge to firebox measure 10" to the left and right and 16" out, within saftey tolerances. The firebox interiors cast refractory cement liners at the floor and walls are in very good condition, showing no significant wear or cracks. The manually operated flue functions properly. I see no safety issues.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I read: “Chimney Inspection: Preventing Collapse”. I learned of the possibly deadly nature of a chimney collapse and measures to be taken to prevent collapses and safety measures to implement to reduce risk of injuries or death in the event of a collapse.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Chimney construction must meet two conditions beyond merely the safe and effective performance of its primary function of conducting combustion products and gases from the fireplace to the exterior. It must also ensure that water cannot intrude into either the chimney or the home, and that heat is not transferred to support structures enough to damage the system or cause a house fire. This essay addresses protection from water intrusion into the home.
The chimney itself does not form a watertight plug of the hole in the roof through which it passes. Flashing prevents water from intruding through the gap between the roof covering and the sides of the chimney. Since the entire assembly comprises a large defect in what would otherwise be uninterrupted roof covering, this flashing must do so without creating an alternative pathway for water to intrude beneath the roof covering to underlying sheathing. It functions best by deflecting water to a continuous downhill path toward the gutters. The horizontal stretch on the uphill side of chimney where it meets the roof is a place where water could potentially pool, not flow, especially when more than 30 inches in length and in heavy rainfall. In order to deflect water constantly downhill, a cricket should be installed, itself with proper flashing, to eliminate the horizontal component of the uphill edge of the roof-chimney interface.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Fireplace mantel and or flamible material should, be an acceptable distance away from sides, over and in front of fireplace As to prevent heat from damaging and or igniting it. Preferably 16 inches Recommend a qualified HVAC contractor inspect and repair as necessary.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Fireplace Fuel
It is important to burn the appropriate fuel. Chimneys can become lined with residue from inappropriate items, which may lead to dangerous chimney fire (mechanical damage). Harmful Vapors can vent into the living space creating the potentially for everyone to be exposed.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This is a photo found on Chimney solutions of Indiana. This is a photo of a Chimney Cap. There is a before-and-after photo of the installation of the Chimney Cap. In the photos you can see that before and after they install the Chimney Cap it’s still missing the cricket and it appears that there is sediment and settlement behind the chimney.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
The photo submitted shows a gas furnace flue pipe that is not fully installed. Double walled flue pipe is present as required. However, the flue pipe is not connected and use of the gas furnace at this time would release furnace emission, which include carbon monoxide into the unfinished attic space, which is an unsafe condition.
Research & Writing Assignment:
The photo submitted is of a natural gas furnace flue pipe that is not connected and run to atmosphere above the roof. Operating a gas furnace without the flue pipe connected to atmosphere would allow for products of combustion, including carbon monoxide to be released into the unfinished attic space. This would cause a potential health hazard to the occupants of the building. The flue pipe needs to be connected and run to the rooftop vent cap.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Improper vent connector photo. This shows the inlet and vent pipe going into the same room. The pipes extend above the water heater a very short distance. This should be corrected so that the inlet air pipe and vent are installed properly through the wall.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
In the photo, we have a cracked firebox. This is a major defect that needs to be repaired immediately. The owners were made aware of the defect and were told that superheated gasses can enter the system and cause major damage.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Chimney Inspection: Preventing Collapse
This article goes over common issues that you can find when inspecting chimneys. It provides a lit of defects and common causes for why those defects can be found as well as why chimneys can collapse.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Chimney flashing is an important part of keeping water intrusion out of the house. Without the flashing water can get trapped between the roof deck, shingles and chimney. This trapped water can cause leaks as well as rotting the wood roof deck or refters.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I read the article “Adjustable Steel Columns” and found the information to be very informative. As a former code enforcement office I saw these after the fact columns installed in many homes. Many times the columns were installed in dirt floor basements by putting them on a concrete block. This is obviously a bad situation for several reasons because the column was not mechanically secured to the block nor was the block able to support the load bearing on it.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This fireplace was built according to the standards of the day. Since then, designs have changed, and each flue is now required to be separated from another by a physical brick structure - called a wythe. In this fireplace, these flues are not separated by any brick wythe. They abut each other inside the chimney structure. There is a possibility gases may transfer between flues, with the potential for back drafting into the dwelling of combustion gases. Before the fireplace can be safely used as designed, a licensed mason should inspect and maintain the flues in a working condition that prevents fire damage to structure and potential back drafting of dangerous combustion gases.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Clay liners that once were used with oil furnaces, and are now being used for venting gas or propane furnaces or water heaters may deteriorate (known as “spalling”). This is from oil residue - sulphates from combustion of oil - absorbed in the liner that then corrosively break down when exposed to the moist combustion gases typical of gas fired appliances (eg steam from a boiler vent on a cold day). Because of this potential problem, most chimney sweeps will eventually recommend a liner replacement. For this reason, I recommend a qualified chimney sweep inspect for safety.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
In this photo, the chimney is at least three feet above the ridge line. It has a rain cap that is in good condition, and is properly step and counter flashed along the side of the masonry that meets the roof. This chimney however, does not need a cricket because it is less than 30 inches wide.
Research & Writing Assignment:
In the photo Expanded Counter Flashing, it shows a chimney on a asphalt shingle roof. The step flashing goes up the side of the chimney where the roof meets the masonry, and each shingle is installed over the step flashing. The counter flashing then covers over the step flashing, and is also inserted into the mortar and sealed to hold it in place.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
House framing components should be at least two inches away from the chimney wall. Open spaces between the chimney wall and the combustible building materials should be sealed and insulated with non combustible materials. This picture shows a metal flu liner that originates at the chimney and terminates at the roof level. The framing materials should be protected from chimney components with non combustible materials.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Chimneys perform a necessary task for appliances of combustion. For solid fuel fireplaces, products of combustion include not only carbon dioxide and water, but also particulates sjuch as creosote that can condense onto flue liner surfaces. Accumulated creosote may ignite and burn with sufficient heat and duration to damage the chimney or firplace structure and start a house fire. It is recommended that a professional cleaning be done every year of regular use, and more often with heavy use or when fuels are excessively moist.
This prefabricated fireplace appears to be in good shape but is one erdue for cleaning.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Today some homeowners like to have fireplaces in their home but they choose to get a ventless or unvented unit so they can place it anywhere in the home without the need of a chimney. These units are aesthetically pleasing but if not operated correctly can cause health problems due to non combusted fuel staying in the home.
